"Jared doesn't have anything to be worried about," I say around a bite.
"Maybe not." She shrugs. "But strictly from a biological standpoint, there was one superior male there today, and it wasn't Jared."
I pause with a forkload of pasta. "Thanks," I say dryly. "I'll be sure I don't mention that to him."
Shelby laughs. "You know what I mean. Animal kingdom, nature, yada yada."
"Want to hear something interesting?"
"Always."
"Wyatt was working with his shirt off today."
Shelby pauses mid-chew. "I'm guessing you didn't record that either."
I reach over and wipe sauce from her upper lip. "I thought you didn't like him?"
"I don't like him, but that doesn't mean I can't appreciate the gifts God gave him."
I laugh. "I think you might be insane. Or really hard up."
She nods, agreeing with both, and keeps eating. "What are you going to do about Jared?"
"What's there to do? I already explained to him that he won't betellingme to do anything." He was embarrassed I caught him saying that. I think he let the blatantly obvious pissing contest get the best of him.
I told him I'd eat dinner with Shelby, because I already promised her I would, and that I'd be over later. He apologized for how he acted when he saw Wyatt, and I explained Wyatt wasn't going anywhere for quite a while. I could tell he wasn't happy about that, and he didn't understand it, but I'm not going to air Wyatt's dirty laundry just to make Jared feel better.
I'm standingin front of the copper patina Circle B sign, playing around with new names for the ranch. I haven't landed on the right one yet. I need something unassuming. I don't want to be basic and obvious, likeJo's Ranch for At-Risk Youth.The point is to be a place where these kids want to go, not rub their noses in their mistakes.
I study the list of possible names I've written down in my notebook, my thumb skimming the page. Maybe I'll show it to Dakota later and see what she thinks.
I head back over to the trailer and check my phone. Dakota should be here any minute, and Wyatt too. I texted him last night asking if he could come back. I had a giant Dumpster delivered early this morning after seeing the pile Wyatt had going. We need to transfer it all into the oversized bin before they come back for it. I've also called the numbers Dakota gave me, and have meetings over the next few days to get some estimates from a general contractor. I have plenty of ideas, and very little money, but I at least need to know what I'm getting myself into. At the very least, I need to make the main house livable enough for Travis to come and live with me if he wants to.
Dakota pulls in, and Wyatt's in the truck behind her. He waves hello to me, then goes to help Dakota get Colt out of the car. Instead of handing the baby to his mom, Wyatt keeps him. He strides away, his head close to Colt's head, and he's talking to him.
Dakota watches them with open affection as she comes my way. "He's a bit of a baby hog. Nobody has a chance if Wyatt's around." She drops a diaper bag at her feet. "You wouldn't believe the amount of stuff a tiny person needs."
I remember it all from when Travis was a baby. How often his diaper needed changing, and trying various ointments to help with his diaper rash. I don't mention it to Dakota though. She knows I spent two years with Travis before my mom moved away, but I haven't told her how involved I was in his day-to-day care.
I study Wyatt with Colt. He dips his face down, talking softly about who knows what. I've seen Wyatt in various situations over the years, but watching him care for an infant is probably the sexiest thing I've ever seen him do. And he doesn't even know he's doing it.
I groan silently as I recognize the first breath of my old crush awakening. Growing legs. Standing up from the place I banished it to. Stretching.
Absolutely not. I told Jared he has nothing to worry about and I meant it. Those old feelings are nothing but memories, so I push them down, turning away from the sight of Wyatt holding a baby.
"I figured it out,” Dakota whispers.
"Figured out what?" I stage-whisper back.
"The person you slept with in Phoenix was Wyatt."
My stomach tightens. "I-I… Please don't tell anybody."
Dakota reaches for me. "Of course not. But if I'm remembering our conversation from back then correctly, you said he doesn't remember, right?"
I nod. Tears prick at the backs of my eyes. I feel stupid. I turn away so Dakota doesn't see me, and the feeling passes.
"You really care about him, don't you?" Her tone is kind. The lack of pity makes me feel better.
